The Fort Lauderdale Improv was recently transformed into Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Club – for one night, at least – as part of a special fundraiser that generated more than $12,000 for Kids in Distress of Broward and Palm Beach Counties – a 20 percent increase over the amount raised at last year’s event.

The funds will be used to help Kids in Distress, a nationally accredited agency working for the prevention of child abuse, preservation of the family, and the treatment of abused and neglected children.

Sponsored by Carnival’s Global Contact Center and hosted by Eli Rodriguez, one of the company’s sales coaches who is also a professional comedian, the evening featured hilarious sets by four of the cruise line’s most popular comedians – Jason Blanchard, Vince Morris, Pat Godwin and Thea Vidale  – who have entertained guests in Carnival’s shipboard comedy clubs as well as comedy venues throughout the country.

The most popular comedy venues at sea, Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Clubs presented by George Lopez are featured aboard all 24 of the line’s “Fun Ships,” with a lineup of side-splitting funnymen and women each voyage.  It’s estimated that the Punchliner Comedy Clubs host upwards of 20,000 comedy shows annually fleetwide.